The Best Ways To Enjoy The ‘Natural’ in The Natural State When It’s This Hot

Have a hard time telling your Ursa Major from your Ursa Minor? Can’t distinguish a shooting star from a satellite? Head out from Jolly Rogers Marina on a Lake Maumelle pontoon cruise for a lesson in all things celestial, and catch a cool evening breeze while you’re at it.

Photography by Tyler Thompson from Capture Arkansas

Stargazing Cruises at Pinnacle Mountain State Park

Have a hard time telling your Ursa Major from your Ursa Minor? Can’t distinguish a shooting star from a satellite? Head out from Jolly Rogers Marina on a Lake Maumelle pontoon cruise for a lesson in all things celestial, and catch a cool evening breeze while you’re at it. (July 1 and 28; 9-10:30 p.m.; $15 for adults, $8 for children 6-12; arkansasstateparks.com/pinnaclemountain)

Night Sky Exploration Hike at DeGray Lake Resort State Park

One of our favorite things about DeGray Lake—its relative remoteness—is what has us all starry-eyed over the state park’s ranger-led night hikes. You’ll hike out into the dark woods before reaching a quiet beach, where you can cuddle up on a blanket and gaze the night away. BYO flashlight. (July 1; 9-10 p.m.; free; degray.com)

Summer Star Party at Woolly Hollow State Park

If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at telescoping, this is your chance: an evening of star-spotting and planet-peeping with experts from the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society. (July 14; 9 p.m.; free; arkansasstateparks.com/woollyhollow)

Twilight Kayak Adventures at Lake Fort Smith State Park

Kayaking during the day? Sunburn city. Kayaking at dusk, as the sun starts to dip below the Boston Mountain ridgeline? That’s more like it. (July 7, 14, 21 and 28; 7-9 p.m.; $15 for adults, $10 for children 6-12; arkansasstateparks.com/lakefortsmith)

Nature’s Night Lights at Lake Dardanelle State Park

Honeysuckles, swimmin’ holes and fireflies—those three Southern-summer things have an almost preternatural ability to bring out the kid in even the most grown-up of grown-ups. Channel your inner 7-year-old, and spend an evening learning about the little buggers that light up the night at the Lake Dardanelle amphitheater. (July 27; 7:45-8:30 p.m.; free; arkansasstateparks.com/lakedardanelle)

Full Moon Kayak Tour at Lake Catherine State Park

Lake Catherine is beautiful by day, but we can only imagine it’s even more so under the light of a full summer moon. Find out during this ranger-led tour in a flat-water (read: beginner-friendly) kayak. (July 27; 8:30-9:30 p.m.; free; arkansasstateparks.com/lakecatherine)

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Arkansas Life magazine digs deep into The Natural State each month, unearthing surprising stories and exposing readers to new facets of a familiar place. To put it simply, we’re naturally curious—and we’re proud, like you, to call this place home.